Squirrels and an AR-15?

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Bridger

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So I noticed in a thread over in the Rifle forum about the FAB-10 that some guys use them for hunting squirrels. I have only gone after squirrels a few times and only got one heh, with my .22. I liked it though, but I always thought my AR-15 would be a bit too much to use on a squirrel. I'd kinda like to eat them and save the fur.

So, I've got a 20 " bbl 1/9 twist AR with an ACOG on it, my only rifle with an optic. Anyone think it would be too much for squirrels if I want to eat them and save the fur? I'm confident I could take headshots with it on a squirrel, more consistently than I can with my Winchester 9422. Just wondering if I could use it for variety or whatever. If I did, what ammo should I use? I used some softpoints on gallon bottles of ice...and well, I thought those would last for more than one shot. Don't know if they would just punch through a squirrel like a .22 though, since there's not much room for bullets to fragment etc.

So, does anyone here hunt squirrels with their AR?
 
We've taken a few squirrels with a Mini-14. Rule #4 applies unless you're WAAAAY back in there, even then be mindful.


FMJ. Meat damage is substantial. I took one that was near the trunk by shooting the trunk beside him and the shock & spray of bark knocked him out of the tree unconscious. Step on his head.
 
I've done it for pest control using surplus fmj ammo. Head shots are a necessity if you want to have anything to eat. IME, even an fmj pretty much vaporizes their little skulls at typical PA woodland range.
 
I've thought about this too. I have a friend who hunts squirrels, and he's been bugging me to go with him. I have a Marlin .22 bolt action, and an AR-15 exactly as Bridger described. Probably WAY overkill for Maryland hunting though.


So is squirrel meat any good?
 
"So is squirrel meat any good?"

Tastes nutty :p

Thanks for the info guys, I think I'll stick to my .22 heh.
 
many states it is illegal to hunt squirrels with centerfire rifles. I also dont think shooting an .223 up into the trees to kill a squirrel is one of the safest things to do. That bullet can go a LOOOONG ways
 
FMJ. Meat damage is substantial. I took one that was near the trunk by shooting the trunk beside him and the shock & spray of bark knocked him out of the tree unconscious. Step on his head.

Thats how the colonialists used to hunt them. They would shoot the tree they were on, killing them with the shock wave, and then recover the lead to re-use later on.
 
As I don't have a poodleshooter (yet), I have no opinion otherwise - though I have known them to be used as long range varmit guns.
 
Might be too big

I tried using my .22MAG to get a bit more range. The first time I used an HP round and a body hit pretty much ruined all the meat. When I went to a FMJ round I didn't have much better luck. Getting the range pretty much eliminated head shots so I'm back to my .22LR with solid rounds.

I'd be interested in how folks are making out with the .17 HMR. I'm thinking it'd be the perfect squirrel rifle because you get range and a smaller round.

I guess I'd be real nervous about trying to shoot a .223 at a squirrel in a tree. You never know where that round is going to come down.
 
Thats how the colonialists used to hunt them. They would shoot the tree they were on, killing them with the shock wave, and then recover the lead to re-use later on.


I believe that's called "barking" squirrels.
 
We to called it "barking".

When I was growing up I had permission to hunt a timber with a PRIVATE road running into it. So many people would drive down the road and shoot the squirrels from the road that they had learned to stay 100 yards or more from the road. The friend that owned the land found out I had a Win. Varmint in .222. He and I would head down the road on cold sunny days and take turns shooting the squirrels when they came out to sun themselves on the branches. The trees were in a valley and we would shoot from a small hill down into the timber. I used ammo loaded for me by a differant friends father. I have no idea what the load was but it was sccaarrry accurate and didn't seam to ruin much meat.

We eat a lot of squirrel that winter.:)

Did someone mention the 17 HMR???? I love mine and now that the price of ammo is comming down I might be shooting it more. I havn't had a chance to hunt with it yet since my dad has been using it to protect his garden from the hoards of invading possums:D He says it works VERY well.
I always thought the 17HMR would be a squirrel hunters dream. Sight it 1/2" high at 50 yards and be Dead-on at 100. Perfect squirrel range to me :)

Darkside
 
How you cook squirrel? Cut it up, roll it in flour, and fry it like chicken? Any secret recipes?

Just to keep on topic, me and Grandpa used to bark squirrels too, with a Marlin 39A. Same trick works on groundhogs or marmot, if they're on a rock, according to a friend of mine that used to hunt in the mountains.
 
I've barked a few squirrels in my day. Model 70 in '06 works.

Q. How do you bark with a '06?

A. You miss the deer 'cause " that tree pulled out in front of bullet" , the squirrel was in the wrong place at the wrong time - collateral damage.

I did not miss, it was the tree's fault. I "learnt" on the Internet to blame misses on equipment, trees, weather, phase of moon....
:)
 
How you cook squirrel?

Some of the best squirrel I've ever had was prepared as follows:

Quarter the squirrel.
Soak the parts overnight in saltwater.
Parboil the squirrel parts in fresh water for 20 minutes or so after water reaches a boil.
Dredge in flour seasoned with black pepper.
Fry until golden brown in hot bacon fat or sausage fat.
 
It would probably be ok if you take head shots ad the squirrel was against the trunk of the tree or on the ground.

The .22 is a much better choice- once again head shots, and watch the direction you are shooting or have a backstop. You shouldn't have to shoot beyond 50 yards, most of the squirrels I take are within 15 yards, and I usually limit out on them.
 
Tree rats

Head shots with a scoped 22 or a good 410 with lead #4 shot always has worked well on my hunts for tree rats.

With all the different 22 rimfire ammo choices, whats the max range for ethical shots? 100 yards??

12-34hom.
 
I have shot lots of squirrel with a .17HMR. Works great because you can shoot so precisely.

I have taken a few with a .223 out of a Ruger #3. I shoot in dense pine forest. The bullets I use are 40 grain and 50 grain sierra blitz or hornady v-max. One deflection off of a twig or branch and they are not going very far.

The .17 is better from my view as the .223 tends to tear them up too much.
 
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